I recently witnessed “rage bait” on social media, someone insinuating overhearing someone say, “Hawaiians don’t deserve to have a nice home, so we’re going to keep our recently inherited home.”

Please stop vilifying. Why would anyone want to keep a home they are not going to enjoy from Hawaiians? 

And here we are, people needing affordable housing in Hawaii, on Maui, are inflamed. 

I own a Maui vacation rental. My 1989 permit to short-term rent is being revoked by the recent Bill 9, the county approved. I wished this solved the housing problem. But it won’t.

People have conveniently vilified STR owners. And yet, I kid you not, Hawaii and Maui County have made more taxes off my condo than I have in profits.

For two years, I have rented to FEMA for a fire survivor. They just moved out. A new beginning. I will re-enter the short-term rental market to cover my $1,800 a month in HOA fees and insurance; plus, to cover the now-$12K the county is charging me in property taxes for a $600K condo. I am preparing my property rights lawsuit against them. 

Many STR condos are presently for sale. Locals aren’t buying. That’s the goal, right? Buy. Yet, fixed costs before a mortgage are astronomical. Owners take risks, we pay taxes. We, as well, don’t want too many tourists, but we don’t want too few. People will lose jobs.

I’ve spent too many hours helping fire survivors find family, pets, food, clothing and housing to believe anything so rage-bait-vicious.

Kelli Lundgren
Lahaina